Vehicle support



April 12, 1949. E. CRAIG 2,466,794

VEHICLE surron'r Filed. March 15, 1946 l N V EN T OR. .EZWAQD CZQA/G,

ATTaP/VEK .is eccentric to the axis of the wheel.

and which is adapted to be mounted so that its periphery 2| is eccentric to the wheel W of the vehicle. In practice I may provide the center plate 2|] with an opening 22 to pass or receive the outer end portion of the hub H in order to allow the center plate to be arranged as close as practical to the wheel W of the vehicle.

The means ll provided for releasably connecting the center plate with the wheel W may, in practice involve any suitable connecting means although I prefer to employ a means that utilizes, in part at least, the construction normally provided in the vehicle. In the drawings I have shown a form of connecting means I! to be used where the fasteners connecting the flange Hi and hub H involve tapped holes in one of the parts, for instance in the hub H. The particular form of means ll illustrated in the drawings involves guides 30 projecting from the inner side of the center plate and screw members 3| carried by the guides to have heads 32 at the outer side of the plate 20 and threaded ends 33 to enter tapped openings H in the hub H. In the preferred construction I provide a multiplicity of units such as I have just described, for instance, several guides with their screw members 3| and I space and locate these units so that to apply the center 20 to the wheel the operator removes a predetermined number, say for instance,

three of the screw fasteners connecting the rim and wheel, and applies the three screw members 3| in the manner illustrated throughout the drawings so that when the members 3| have been made tight the plate 20 is mounted in a plane parallel to that of the wheel, but its periphery 2| Inthe particular construction illustrated the screw members 3| are retained in the guides 3|] by retainer pins 35 which cooperate with reduced parts 36 of the members 3| as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The wheel l3 that I have provided is preferably a simple light wheel structure involving, essentially, a rim 40 and a web 4|. The rim 40 may be provided with a suitable tire or tread 42 as shown in the drawings, whereas the web 4| may be a simple, plain plate such as a body of sheet metal.

The means l4 provided to connect the wheel l3 with the center I2 or to mount the wheel on the center may vary widely in construction. In the case illustrated in the drawings I have shown an annular flange 44 projecting from the outer side of the center plate 20 near the periphery thereof and concentric with the periphery 2| of the cenouter part of the flange 44 to retain the hubprojection 45 on the flange 44. As will be seen in Fig. 5, the hub projection 4.") is retained on the flange 44 between the retainer plate 46 and the peripheral or marginal portion of the plate 2|].

{ I have shown the plate 20, flange 44 and retainer plate 46 as separate parts secured together by fastening means 48 in the form of bolts. However, it will be apparent that these parts can be arranged and related in various ways other than that illustrated.

It is important to note that the hub projection 45 on the inner side of the web 4| of the wheel and which is carried on the flange 44 of the center is located eccentric to the rim 4|} of the wheel 13. It is an important feature of my invention that the eccentricity of the hub projection 45 and the eccentricity of the peripheral flange 44 of the center l2 be such, and be so related, that the wheel l3 can be positioned relative to the center |2 so that the rim 4|] is located a substantial amount eccentric of the wheel W of the vehicle, or they can be related so that they together form an assembly or a wheel structure having the rim 40 concentric with the wheel of the vehicle.

The operating means I5 that I have provided is operable to move the principal elements of the device, that is the center |2 and the wheel I3, relative to each other to move them between the positions above described. In the form of the invention illustrated the operating means involves a drive pinion 60 carried by the wheel section I3 and cooperating with a gear 6| carried by the center section l2. The drive pinion 60 is carried by the web 4| of the wheel l3 and, as shown in Fig. 5, it is fixed on a pin 62 rotatable in an opening 63 in the web 4| and it has an operating head 64 at the outer side of the Web 4|. The head 64 may be a hexagonal head corresponding to the heads 32 above described or to a nut so that it can be readily engaged by a wrench or tool such as is commonly used to manipulate the fasteners that secure the vehicle rim to the wheel. The gear 6| is preferably a large gear arranged concentric with the flange 44 of the center l2 and in the particular case illustrated the outer or peripheral portion of the retainer flange 46 projects and is toothed to form the gear 6|. In practice I make the pinion 60 small in diameter and the gear 6| rather large in diameter so that a substantial mechanical advantage is gained through this gearing, making it possible to easily turn the pinion in order to efiect the desired relative movement between the wheel l3 and center l2.

In the form of the invention illustrated I have shown a safety means for checking accidental movement between the wheel l3 and center |Z in a direction opposite to that desired which means may involve a ratchet pawl 10 on a pivot pin 1| carried by a bracket 12 on the web 4| of the wheel l3.

The lock means that I have provided is intended to be engaged or put into operation when the wheel I3 is located relative to the center |2 so that the rim 40 of the Wheel |3 is concentric with the wheel W of the vehicle. The particular lock means illustrated in the drawings involves a projecting bracket on the center, for instance on the outer side of the retainer plate 46 of the center l2, a socket 8| in the web 4| of wheel l3 and a lock pin 82. The bracket 80 has an opening 83 that registers with the socket 8| when the wheel I3 is in the desired position relative to the center l2 and in the case illustrated the socket 8| is tapped and the lock pin 82 is a threaded pin or bolt adapted to be arranged through the opening 83 and threaded into the socket 8|. When the lock pin 82 is in place it positively prevents relative rotation or movement between the wheel I3 and the center l2. In the particular form of the invention illustrated I show a short, flexible connection 85 coupling the lock pin 82 to the wheel l3 so that it cannot become misplaced.

In employing the structure that I have provided, when a tire T on a vehicle wheel is deflated as shown in Fig. 1, any ornamental hub cap is first removed in the usual manner and then a suitable enemas nuinhencsayfor instance threeof the fastenin means whichinorrn llyservecto retain :the .whee JYLu lI the hublflmare removed. Theiastenin me nde sa nered: so that the .center 12 .can be attachedtoxthe wheel :W to be in what, Lwill term tan :itlpxtnosition. When thecenter 12 has been 'mad iaSt-to the =wheel-W bythe means I =1 ,asabove disdained,so'iihatjthe center 12 ,is,,in efi'ect,;a part pfiithe iwheel' W.-e.xcep,t that its peripheral flange 5,24; 's;- e ccehtric-thereto the wheel l.3-is llocatedein :Wihaa I Will-xterm .an-fup position, that .is sorthat itis eccentricto thewheel W inthe same direceftion iasgthelcenter l Zand. bothxin a direction where jihe axlegof :the :wheel Wis as low as possible relative to the rim 4!! of the wheel I3. The operatoritheniengagesthe head 64 with a suitable tool, rsazyxitorfliistance a wrench, and by rotating lit ,-p ,ates the, pinion 60 .so thatv the gear and pinden noopcmtencausing relativemovement between Lathe eenteriLZa-ndthe wheel I3. With the tire 1T dilat on the ground there :is marked resistance to :notatienpf the wheel [3 and, if necessary, a block 191- helike panbelocated to prevent the wheel .1 f mm rolling on the ground G. However, the eeLW, is allowed t,o be; free and as the pinion and; ear cooperatevthe wheel-W turns and after a veny slight;rotation: the vehicle is liftedto relieve pressure from the tire T and the wheel W turnsf reely. ,The operation of the gear and pinion is continued until the hole 83 of the lock means is in register -;.with "the socket, 8|, at which time the eecentricityoi the wheel l3 and of the center 12 causes the rim 40 of the wheel [3 to beconcentric with the wheel W of the vehicle. When the lock pin :82 is engaged or arranged in place thestructure is locked and the vehicle .can ,be ,operated ina limited manner on the rim 40 of the? wheel '13.

Inaving described only a typicalpreferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish-to 'b e' lim'it'ed or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish'toreserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to ,thoseskilled in the art and fallwithin the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An attachment for a vertical wheel including, a center section, means for attaching said section to the wheel, said section having a part eccentric to the wheel when the section is attached thereto, and a wheel section rotatably supported on said part and having a periphery concentric with the wheel when the wheel section is in a predetermined rotative position relative to the center section.

2. An attachment for a vehicle wheel including, a center section, means for attaching said section to the wheel, said section having a part eccentric to the wheel when the section is attached thereto, and a wheel section rotatably supported on said part by a portion eccentric to the periphery of the wheel section.

3. An attachment for a vehicle wheel including, two sections one a center section th other a wheel section, means for attaching the center section to the wheel, means rotatably supporting the wheel section on the center section eccentric thereto, the wheel section having a peripheral portion concentric with the wheel when the wheel section is in a predetermined rotative position relative to the center section, means operable to turn the sections relative to each other, and means for locking the sections against relative movement.

4. An attachment for a vehicle wheel including,

motatably supportin "i hewwiheel section on :the vcenter section eccentric thereto,- thewheel sectionhavingla-periphe yaconcentric, iththe wheel th wheeli ection is, inra prede rmined ro- :tativapos-ition, .re1ative- ;to ,the center section and seearsmeansoperable; tu n the sections relative in leaehzotherto. bring-:the wheel section tosaid ,pesition. cfinAn; attachment tor. a vehicle-wheel including,.- .a. center ssectionnzmeans :for attaching sai sectioncto thewheel, saidzsection having part eccentrictogthewheel.When the section isnate rtac'hedthereto, a-wvheel section rotatably sup.- rnortedwonzsaiidgpantcbyua:portion eccentric etc. the -periphery.-,0f.ithe::wheel section, and .gear means operable :itoi turn {$118 .usections relative .to each other. a

7.. ,An attachment foreavehicle, wheel including, a center s.ection ,.cmeans':ilor ,attachingsaid section zatosithe Wheel, said section: having a part; eccentric to the wheelwhentheisection is ,attached thereto, a:awheellisection:rotaztablyisupportedxon said part ibyea p r ionaeccentrid to the peripheryof the wheel section, iandemeans operable to, turn the sections relativelto .eachzother includinga pinion :cdrnied ibygthe:WhfiiilgSBClliQll: meshing with a gear carried; by thecentersection.

{All attachment; tor-a vehicle wheel including, .aenter section, ,means :for attaching .said sec- :tion; to-ithe-wheel, said section having a peripheral .nart @iQCGfiIIlTIEiGiIlO the :wheel, when the section is ttached:theretomand alwheel section rotatably upported. .onxsaid part zandlhav-ing a, peripheral portion concentricwithfthe wheelwhen the-wheel tsectionis in a pnedetermined rotat-ivepos'ition on the center section. i

9. An attachment for a vehicle wheel including a center section with a round peripheral flange, means for securing said section to the wheel with said flange eccentric to the wheel, a wheel section having a rim and a bearing part eccentric to the rim and rotatably supported by the flange, and means operable to rotate the sections relative to each other.

10. An attachment for a vehicle wheel including a center section with a round peripheral flange, means for securing said section to the wheel with said flange eccentric to the wheel, a Wheel section having a rim and a bearing part eccentric to the rim and rotatably supported by the flange, means operable to rotate the sections relative to each other, and means for locking the sections against relative rotation.

11. An attachment for a vehicle wheel including a center section with a round peripheral flange, means for securing said section to the wheel with said flange eccentric to the wheel, a wheel section having a rim and a bearing part eccentric to the rim and rotatably supported by the flange, and means operable to rotate the sections relative to each other including a pinion carried by one section engaging a gear carried by the other section.

12. An attachment for a vehicle wheel including a center section with a round peripheral flange, means for securing said section to the the flange, and means operable to rotate the sections relative to each other including a pinion carried by the wheel section engaging a gear carried by the center section.

13. An attachment for a vehicle wheel including a center section with a round peripheral flange, means for securing said section to the wheel with said flange eccentric to the wheel, a wheel section having a rim and a bearing part eccentric to the rim and rotatably supported by the flange, and means operable to rotate the sections relative to each other including a pinion carried by the wheel section engaging a gear carried by the center section concentric with said flange.

14. An attachment for a vehicle wheel including, two sections one a center section the other a wheel section, means for attaching the center section to the wheel, means rotatably supporting the wheel section on the center section eccentric thereto and having a periphery concentric with the wheel when the wheel section is in a predetermined rotative position relative to the center section, means operable to turn the sections relative to each other to bring the wheel section to said position, and ratchet means checking rotation of the wheel section against rotation in one direction around the center section.

15. An attachment for a vehicle wheel including, two sections one a center section the other a wheel section, means for attaching the center section to the wheel, means rotatably supporting the wheel section on the center section eccentric thereto and having a periphery concentric with the wheel when the wheel section is in a predetermined rotative position relative to the center section, means operable to turn the sections relative to each other to bring the wheel section to said position, ratchet means checking rotation of the wheel section against rotation in one direction around the center section, and means for locking said sections against rotation with 45 the wheel section in said position.

'16. An attachment for a vehicle wheel including, a center section, means for attaching said section to the wheel, said section having a part eccentric to the wheel when the section is attached thereto, a whee1 section rotatably supported on said part by a portion eccentric to the periphery of the wheel section and having a pcripheral portion concentric with the wheel when the wheel section is in a predetermined rotative position relative to the center section, ratchet means checking rotation of the wheel section against rotation in one direction around the center section, and means for locking said sections against rotation with the wheel section in said position.

17. An attachment for a vehicle wheel including, two sections one a center section the other a wheel section, means for attaching the center section to the wheel, means rotatably supporting the wheel section on the center section on an axis parallel with and eccentric to the axis of the vehicle wheel and having a periphery concentric with the axis of the vehicle wheel when the wheel section is in a predetermined rotative position relative to the center section, and means operable to turn the sections relative to each other to bring the wheel section to said predetermined position.

EDWARD CRAIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 899,056 Kenshole Sept. 22', 1908 899,954 Cloyd Sept. 29, 1908 1,158,735 Skinner Nov. 2, 1915 2,035,322 Moody Mar. 31, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 403,006 Great Britain Dec. 14, 1933 

